62 COMMON BRITISH BIRDS 



Note.- A. short, rather monotonous song. Mas a very 

 characteristic call-note, uttered when any one is near 

 nest or young, ' utick, tick, tick, utick, tick, tick/ 

 flitting, meanwhile, anxiously from twig to twig. 



Distinguishing Feature. Rather short stumpy bird. 

 The flick of white on the tail, the whitish eyebrow above 

 the dark eye streak, and the above mentioned call-note. 



Nest. On ground among grass. 



Eggs. Greenish-blue, with pale spots of reddish- 

 brown. 



Haunts. Grasslands as well as moorlands. 



WHITETHROAT. (S.M. Warblers.) 



Size. Small Sparrow. 



Colour. Head ashy-grey, back brownish-grey, wing, 

 coverts and innermost secondaries edged with chestnut, 

 rest of wings dark brown, tail the same, with outer 

 feathers edged white. Throat pure white, breast 

 tinged with pink, contrasting with throat, legs pale 

 brown. Female browner above, breast whiter. 



Note. A lively song often uttered on the wing, the 

 bird fluttering up a little way and singing as it descends. 

 Often utters a jarring, scolding note when nest is 

 approached, ' chaah.' 



Distinguishing Feature. The pure white throat, 

 grey head, and chestnut on wings. If seen close at 

 hand the flesh-coloured legs distinguish this bird from 

 the Lesser Whitethroat, which has bluish-grey legs. 



Nest. A fragile structure made of bents, lined fine 

 roots and hair, in low bush or bramble. 



Eggs. Greenish-white, spotted and speckled with 

 grey and greenish-brown. 



Haunts. Hedgerows, gardens, &c. 



WHITETKROAT, LESSER. (S.M. Warblers.) 



Size. Smaller than Sparrow. 



Colour. Head slaty-grey, rest of upper parts ashy- 

 brown, quills dusky-brown with pale edges, outer tail- 

 feathers edged and tipped white. Throat white, 

 rest of under parts tinged with pink. Legs lead colour. 



Note.- -Of a somewhat similar character to that of the 

 Whitethroat, but rather quieter. 



Distinguishing Feature. More shy and retiring than 

 the larger Whitethroat. The absence of the bright 



